Top member of Gov. Murphy’s inner circle plans to leave the administration

A senior member Gov. Phil Murphy’s inner circle will leave the administration next month, two sources told NJ Advance Media. Pete Cammarano, who serves as the freshman governor’s chief of staff, plans to leave after Murphy’s State of the State address, according to the sources, who requested anonymity because they are not authorized to discuss the matter publicly. The chief of staff serves as the governor’s right-hand man, and the position is one of the two most senior jobs in the administration. Cammarano has the most working knowledge of Trenton among Murphy’s mostly unseasoned senior staff as the governor tries to negotiate with an often hostile state Legislature over big-ticket items such as legalizing marijuana and raising the minimum wage. Cammarano told the governor earlier this week he was planning to leave, according to the sources, who have direct knowledge of the conversation. But Cammarano didn’t give a specific date. But as of Friday, it was agreed he would stay on through Murphy’s speech on Jan. 15, the sources said. Former Murphy top staffer accused of rape won’t testify A Murphy spokesman declined comment Friday. Cammarano didn’t respond to a request for comment. Cammarano’s exit comes as Murphy’s administration is under the Legislature’s microscope over its response to an accusation by Katie Brennan that a former top Murphy official, Albert J. Alvarez, raped her during the campaign last year. Lawmakers announced a joint legislative investigation on Oct. 16, two days after The Wall Street Journal published a story that detailed… [Read full story]